Last spring, with a $5,000 State Health Improvement Project Grant and a partnership with the North Shore Food Project, rec park staff created a large fenced garden that was sheltered by a nearby storage building and highly visible in its location next to the swimming pool parking lot.  “Stuff has really grown and grown well,” Park Manager Dave Tersteeg said.

The garden is being used by a combination of seasonal park guests and year-round community residents. Five park guests and three year-round residents have been networking with each other as they’ve tended eight plots of various sizes:  four 10x10 plots, three 10x14 plots, and one 2x14 plot. 

“It’s a happy garden club atmosphere out there,” Tersteeg said.

Some finishing touches will be installed this fall, such as gutters and rain barrels to capture rain for watering the garden and a sign telling about the project.  This year, city water has been supplied to keep the garden watered.  The cost of that water has been minimal, Tersteeg said.

To facilitate fairness in distributing plots next year, the park will hold a lottery on Wednesday, September 1, 2010.  A person can put his or her name in for the plot of his or her choice or can put his or her name in eight times for a chance at any of the eight plots.  (Once a name is chosen, it is out of running for another plot.)  If you want to enter the drawing, sign up today!

If a large number of people put their names into the lottery, the plots could be restructured to accommodate more gardeners.  Once again, the plots will be given to three year-round residents and five park guests.

Those wanting their names in the hat can call the park office at (218)387-1712 or stop by and pick up a handout listing the rules.  The lucky winners must agree to plant, tend, and weed their plots.